We’re seeing a trend lately of not just more custom MINIs, but MINIs in full vinyl wraps instead of custom paint. The latest is this offering from vinyl shop CoverEFX. Taking its cues from Louis Vuitton, the gold and leather trimmed JCW hatch isn’t just about achieving a particular look. Two performance packages are available, bumping the engine output to 232 hp and 249 hp respectively. While the car’s style certainly isn’t my bag, I think we can all appreciate horsepower. No word yet on whether it travels through time.
Not something I'd want to drive around with on the daily (the wrap that is, wouldn't mind the tune), but I can appreciate the creative value of the project. I think it's nice to see boundaries pushed when it comes to the MINI.
My question is, how long will the wrap remain looking nice and what would be the cost to change it? Would it show dings worse then paint and how would you patch one? Jim
I think the wraps last 3-5 years, depending on weather exposure and usage. Then you peel it off and do another one. I've heard $2-5K depending on complexity of the print (if you have to line things up a certain way and so on). Personally, I think it's the NEXT BIG THING in automotive trends, and as it becomes more common, the costs will come down too. I don't think we're too far away from seeing mfr offered wraps - they do "tatoos" already. I could see Scion or even Fiat offering them, for example...
Ford has teamed up with the same company as MINI did, Original Wraps, to make graphics packages available when you purchase a new Ford. The only issue with these graphics is the cost. Compared to the same items from someone like Cooper Flags or Mighty Stripes the cost is greater. MINI France has created the Matte MINI which is a special edition limited to 50 cars. They are all wraps.